Media Advisory: Coast Guard to establish temporary safety zone on Cape Fear River, NC

 

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 5th District Mid-Atlantic Contact: 5th District Public Affairs Office: (757) 398-6272 After Hours: (757) 434-7712 5th District online newsroom

Media Advisory: Coast Guard to establish temporary safety zone on Cape Fear River, NC

 

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PORTSMOUTH, Va.— The Coast Guard Sector North Carolina Captain of the Port (COTP) is scheduled to enforce a temporary safety zone on the Cape Fear River for the motor vessel Zhen Hua 18, March 29, 2018.

The 753-foot heavy-load carrier will be delivering two new ship-to-shore container cranes to the North Carolina State Port Authority (NCSPA) facility located on the Cape Fear River, Wilmington, North Carolina.

To ensure the highest level of safety, the COTP will enforce a temporary safety zone for approximately five to seven hours to include all navigable waters for about 26 miles south of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.

The safety zone will be enforced until the ship is safely moored at the NCSPA facility.

Due to the size of the cranes, their position during the transit to NCSPA, and the narrow width of the Cape Fear River, no vessel is authorized to moor, transit, or remain within the river while the safety zone is in effect.

Vessels moored at facilities south of Berth One at NCSPA must depart the safety zone area prior to 12:00 a.m., March 28, 2018.

A second safety zone will be enforced for approximately two to four hours on April 1 and April 3, 2018 for the offload of the Neo-PANAMAX cranes. The zone will include all of the waters within a 200-yard radius around the motor vessel Zhen Hua 18 while moored at Berth Eight.

Vessel traffic south of NCSPA will not be impacted.

Public crane viewing areas:

Riverlights Marina Village Waterfront Park
109 Pier Master Point, Wilmington, North Carolina 28402

River Road Park
6500 River Road, Wilmington, North Carolina 28402

Southport Waterfront Park
146-176 E Bay Street, Southport, North Carolina 28461

For more information on the new cranes arrival at the Port of Wilmington:
http://ncports.com/neo-panamax-cranes/

If you have any questions concerning the closure of the Cape Fear River, please contact theWaterways Management Division at: NCmarineevents@uscg.mil or Coast Guard personnel at (910)-772-2230.

Media interested in getting underway on a Coast Guard vessel or requesting an interview should contact Lt. Cmdr. Elizabeth Buendia at 252-241-6042 prior to 5 p.m., Wednesday.

 

-USCG-